Along a Segment of the Magnificent Mile in Chicago

I can see why Twitter gets more activity than other forms of social media because a short burst of information is all that many people can stand to absorb these days. Or perhaps I should say afford to look at because really: how much of it are we actually absorbing?! It's like a virtual neon-blazing commercial hub with a contant stream of pretty colours vying for your attention.

I am new to the Twittersphere, having long been resistant to adding a new link to my communication network for fear I would become even more attached to my screen at night. Do I really want to have more ideas to weave into what I already understand? Become teased with more events and cities that I want to visit but probably won't have time to go?

But I'm discovering that it's a whole different length of chain - a way to connect to people with whom you wouldn't share your familiar details and photographs (such as I do on Facebook) or a rambling and musing of experiences and impressions (such as you see here on my blog).

Twitter gives me a way to say something what is on my mind and get right to the point. I love restructuring my comment to fit the countdown of characters under my post. I can also reach out to an unimaginable sea of minds that I wouldn't otherwise get to reach and potentially strike a chord with someone I admire in a field that interests me.

One thing that surprised me is the multitude of users who use the brevity of Twitter posts to lead readers to another, more larger collection of ideas: a link to another site. Does this illustrate a brilliant use of Twitter to grab people with a headline and seduce you to follow them so they can tell you more? Or is this proof that people really can't say what they need to say in 140 well assembled characters?

I do find myself posting links to draw those unfamiliar with my blog to check out my view of the world, but I like the idea of saying something that may appeal to others like me in a brief moment of introspection. Something to make people smile. Something to make people take a different route home from work or give their child an extra long hug when greeting him or her after work. Something I've noticed that I think others should notice too. And in turn, I may find the same in others' posts!